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Theatre review: The Bear at Wales Millennium Centre

As fans of the picture book, Littlest and I were super excited to be invited to see the stage adaption of The Bear at Wales Millennium Centre yesterday afternoon.

It’s playing in the smaller Weston Studio theatre over the festive season and is every bit as enchanting and beautiful as you would imagine a Raymond Briggs theatre show to be.

Bristol-based Pins and Needles have succeeded in creating an hour-long delight that had my three year old completely mesmerised. (Not to mention me!)Just minutes before the show he’d been crazily running around Wales Millennium Centre’s Ffresh restaurant, where we attended a special press lunch to celebrate the show’s arrival in Cardiff. But as soon as we took to our seats he sat on my lap and barely moved; he was utterly entranced by the story unfolding before him.

Created by the author of The Snowman, The Bear is about a little girl called Tilly. One night a big white polar bear climbs in through her window and thus begins a beautiful friendship as the two learn more about each other’s ways. The bear causes havoc wherever he goes. He breaks things and wees and poos on the carpet. He drinks from the toilet bowl and drenches Tilly when he has a bath. But he is warm and cuddly and Tilly loves him with all her heart. Tilly’s mother and father humour her when she talks about the bear… but the show is so tender and well-executed that it’s never quite clear what is real and what is not.

Susanna Jennings plays Tilly. We first meet her dressed in a red onesie and procrastinating about going to bed in a way that I’m sure most parents will relate to. Susanna gets the childlike qualities, expressions and mannerisms spot on and is a delight to watch.

Lucy Grattan and Benedict Chambers play her mum and dad as well as puppeteering the real star of the show – The Bear. They move the giant creature around so gracefully and smoothly that you almost forget they are there.

(Please note these press photos relate to a previous staging of The Bear and feature a different cast.)

One or two children in the audience did get frightened by the bear. But the majority were fine.

The set is so simple but incredibly versatile as the actors move props around and transform them into other things before our eyes. The stage backdrop is dark and the lighting subtle. It’s not quite a recreation of Briggs’s book but evokes the same warm and tender atmosphere his works such are known for.

The final scene is really emotional. I don’t want to spoil it but it is a beautiful and tender sequence with a few surprises. I know I wasn’t the only one with tears in their eyes by the end of this heart-warming show that really brings to life the wonders of childhood. And with tickets at just £10 it’s an affordable festive family treat.

The Bear is at the Weston Studio at Wales Millennium Centre from Tuesday 12th-Sunday 31st December 2017. It is also running simultaneously at Waterside in Sale, Greater Manchester. Tickets are £10 per person.

Book online at www.wmc.org.uk Babes in arms tickets are £2 each – please contact the Ticket Office on 029 2063 6464 to book.

Age guidance: 3+

Running time: Approximately 55 minutes.

Before or after the show you can also explore the Arctic themed displays in the Centre’s foyer. There’s an alpine village made from cardboard boxes plus a trail of different arctic animals to find. The polar bear in particular is incredible standing on a glacier made from empty water bottles. Read our review to see more.

WIN A FAMILY TICKET

Wales Millennium Centre are kindly offering one family the chance to see The Bear on Thursday 21st December at 10.30am.

The prize includes up to four tickets (2+2 or 1+3) and can only be used on this date.

For a chance to win leave your answer to the following question on The Bear post on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page. Be quick though! Closing date for entries is 11.59pm on Sunday 17th December.

Q. What is the name of the little girl in The Bear?

Terms and conditions:

There is one prize, consisting of a family ticket (two adults plus two children or one adult and three children) to the 10.30am performance of The Bear on Thursday 21st December.

There is no alternative prize.

Closing date for entries is Sunday 17th December 2017, 11.59pm.

Entrants must be 18 years or over.

To enter, leave your answer to the above question in the comments section of The Bear review and ticket giveaway post on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page.

The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries submitted before the closing date. The winner will be informed with a reply to their Facebook comment and a direct Facebook message letting them know they have won. All reasonable attempts will be made to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be within 48 hours the prize will be forfeited and offered to another eligible entrant.

Cardiff Mummy Says reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Any new terms and conditions will be published here.

Cardiff Mummy Says reserves the right to end this promotion at any time and without notice.

Cardiff Mummy Says cannot be held responsible for the failure of third party organisations to provide the prize, or for loss, damage or non-arrival of the prizes.

Relatives of Cathryn Scott, author of Cardiff Mummy Says, may not enter the giveaway.

Employees or relatives of those employed by Wales Millennium Centre or Pins and Needles Productions may not enter this giveaway.

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.